
94 CALIFORNIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Fiske Guide to Colleges 2025
has established itself as a promising school for those seeking to avoid the competitiveness of more selective UC uni-
versities. The campus, which sits on the shore of Lake Yosemite surrounded by green fields and considerable land
set aside for conservation, boasts an environmentally friendly design and has a small- town feel. Merced offers 26
undergraduate majors through its three schools: engineering; natural sciences; and social sciences, humanities, and
arts. It has a diverse student body, with students of color making up 86 percent of the undergraduate population,
and a higher proportion of students from low- income and first- generation backgrounds than any other campus.
It boasts a strong counseling and support system. Merced has the highest acceptance rate of any UC university
(90 percent) and draws relatively few students from out of state. Faculty are bringing in substantial research fund-
ing, especially in the biological sciences.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU)
The California State University system is separate from the University of California and constitutes the largest
system of comprehensive four- year public institutions in the U.S. Unlike UC, where the mandate to publish or
perish is alive and well, teachers in the state system are there to teach.
The 23- campus system caters to more than 475,000 students a year. And while many of the campuses serve
mainly commuters, Chico, Humboldt, Monterey Bay, Cal Poly– San Luis Obispo, Cal Maritime, and Sonoma stand
out as residential campuses. While a solid liberal arts education is offered in CSU institutions, the emphasis is often
on career- oriented professional training; the system produces large numbers of engineers, nurses, and teachers for
California’s workforce. Size varies dramatically, from more than 30,000 full- time students at Northridge and Long
Beach to fewer than 7,000 at several other campuses, like Channel Islands and Monterey Bay. Each campus has its
strengths, although in most cases, a student’s choice of school is dictated by location rather than by academic special-
ties. For those with a wider choice, some of the more distinctive campuses are profiled in the following paragraphs.
Chico (full- time enrollment 12,300), situated in the beautiful Sacramento Valley, draws a large majority of its
students from outside a 100- mile radius and continues to become more selective in its admissions. The on- campus
undergraduate life is strong and the social life is great. California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo (20,500),
colloquially known as Cal Poly– San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly SLO, is the toughest Cal State university to get into. It
provides excellent training in the applied branches of such fields as agriculture, architecture, business, and engineer-
ing. Fresno (20,400), located in the verdant Central Valley, has the only viticulture school in the state outside of
UC Davis, and undergraduates can work in the school winery. Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia national parks
are nearby.
San Diego State (31,400) is the balmiest of the campuses, with a more residential, outdoorsy, and campus-
oriented social scene. “You could go for the weather alone— some do,” says one former student. Contrasted with
most other state schools, athletics are very important, and the academic offerings are almost as oriented to the
liberal arts as at its neighbor, UC San Diego. San Diego State is highly selective for students from out of the area.
San José State (26,000), located in the heart of Silicon Valley, boasts strong programs in computer science and
engineering (including aerospace) as well as amazing internship opportunities for students right in its backyard.
Sonoma State (5,900), situated just north of San Francisco in the wine- growing capital of the state, has become
increasingly popular, with strong programs in computer science, creative writing, and electrical engineering, as
well as a concentration in wine business strategies within the business school. The Hutchins School of Liberal
Studies allows students to complete their lower- division general education requirements in small (15 students)
seminar- style classes that emphasize critical examination and excellence in written communication. Housing and
the new student life building are gorgeous.
California Polytechnic at Humboldt (5,000), colloquially known as Cal Poly– Humboldt, is perched at the
top of the state near the Oregon border in the heart of the redwoods. Humboldt’s forestry and wildlife departments
have national reputations, and the natural science departments are strong. Students have the run of excellent labo-
ratory facilities and Redwood National Park, and the university added nine new majors in fall 2023. Many in- staters
come here to enjoy the rugged coastline north of San Francisco. California Maritime Academy (800), located 30
miles northeast of San Francisco, specializes in marine transportation, engineering, and maritime technology. It
boasts the 500- foot training ship Golden Bear, which serves as a classroom. Monterey Bay (5,800) is one mile from
the beach, and 52 percent of students live on campus. It offers an interdisciplinary focus with a global perspective,
opportunities for internships, and a unique Capstone Festival featuring the culminating projects of graduating
seniors, credential candidates, and master’s students.
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